From:
elnrrgby1@aol.com
Date: 2001-11-04 18:48:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Histiocytoma and a few new questions
Dr. Williams,
Thank you for the quick response and information. I had fully
expected to get an answer of "lymphoma" or "lymphosarcoma" from the
lab based upon his history, his current lab work, and his overall
current condition....or even if that wasn't the case, I figured I
would maybe get another "atypical hyperplasia" or something similar.
When they said "histiocytoma" though, and said that it was worse than
lymphoma, I was pretty shocked and extremely confused and have spent
the last 24 hours trying to figure out how that could be and what
they were really talking about. And, obviously never found anything
that fit with this case.
As you sort of said, nothing has been straightforward or simple with
Bhut's case from the very beginning and it seems for every answer,
there are always at least 10 questions....at least for me anyway. I
don't even know that a true answer will ever come, or if it will come
in time to actually help him, but I would still like to know for my
own piece of mind if nothing else.
I will be sending off the current samples tomorrow for you to review.
If you would like to have a copy of the preliminary path. report from
Purdue, I can see about getting it faxed to you.
Also, since I have a feeling this is going to happen faster than I
ever dreamed.....if/when he does die, or if I end up having to
euthanize him, I would like for you to be involved in the necropsy if
at all possible. I know I still won't be able to bring myself to
just give him up completely, and will want his remains returned to
me, so I have decided that having a cosmetic necropsy done locally
will be best. If you are willing, can you please let me know exactly
what types of samples you would like and how you would like them
prepared so I can have that information ready if/when needed?
Thanks again for all of your help!
Stacia
> Dear Stacia -
>
> Why don't you send me the remainder of the tissue. Histiocytoma is
> not an appropriate diagnosis for a ferret - I am hopeful that this
> diagnosis will be amended. The research that you have done on
> histiocytomas is correct - these are skin tumors of dogs and have
no
> bearing on ferrets.
>
> Spleens can be confusing - extramedullary hematopoesis is the most
> common cause of enlarged spleen and can look very much like a
> neoplasm. Of course, we have also been talking about lymphoma and
> Bhut for quite a while now, and perhaps it has finally shown up.
>
> Also remember that none of Bhut's biopsies have been
straightforward
> to date, and I wouldn't expect this one to be easy, either.
>
> With kindest regards,
>
> Bruce Williams, DVM